Device for killing boll-weevils.



No. 897,850. I PATENTED $31 11, 1908.

w. L. ROSS'ON.

DEVICE FOR KILLING BOLL WEEVILS. APPLICATION FILED DEG.16,1907L4 o v Q lN vweutq'c atto'nnugo @yfi @M W 1n: mamas PETERS co., wasnmcrou, I:v c.

WILLIAM L. ROSSON, OF MILFORD, TEXAS.

DEVICE FOR KILLING BOLL-WEEVILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept; 1, 1908.

Application filed December 16, 1907. Serial No. 406,707.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. RossoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milford, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for KillingBoll- Weevils, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for destroying weevils,vermin, and the like that thrive in cotton fields, etc., and comprisesmeans that may be propelled across a field of any contour and yet easilyadjust itself to the same.

The invention further comprises the pro vision of a plurality of dragbars or members that are pivotally secured to a cross member so that asthe cross member is moved from place to place each drag bar will beallowed .or permitted a free up and down or vertical movementindependent of the remaining bars.

The object in view is the provision of a boll weevil exterminator formedwith a plurality of bars that are designed to be pivotally secured inposition so that as the same are moved across the field each bar willindependently adjust itself to the particular shape of the earth overwhich the same is assing.-

With these and other objects in view the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of Fig. 1.

In raising cereals, grain, cotton, or the like it has been found thatvarious insects or vermin attack the crop to a greater or less ex tentand various means have been provided for entirely exterminating thevermin, or to :as nearly exterminate the same as possible. In theraising of cotton the weevil is particularly objectionable and it isvery important that substantially all of the same should be exterminatedin order to properly raise the cotton.

The resent invention relates to means for exterminating the Weevil,either after it has attained some size or while still in the boll or inthe eggs.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1, 2 and 3 represent dragbars that are over.

secured to a cross bar or beam 4 by pivotal or hinge members or clevisand rings 5, 6, and 7. By this means each of the drag bars 1, 2 and 3may move up and down on a pivot point or in a vertical plane so that asthe drag bars are moved across the field each bar may move up and downaccording to the contour of the earth. A suitable attaching means 8 ispivotally secured to bar 4 so that the device may be propelled or pulledthrough the field as may be desired. Attaching means 8 is preferablyconstructed of hook shaped members 9 and 10, and chains 11 and 12.Chains 11 and 12 are held in position by a hooked sha ed member 13 thatis designed to have a w iffle-tree secured thereto. The chains 11 and 12are of e ual length so that any draft upon the'whi e-tree secured tohook or member 13 will evenly pull or drag the bars 1, 2 and 3 acrossthe field. Ordinarily three drags composed of members 1, 2 and 3 andconnecting mechanism are pulled across the field at one time, a singlehorse being usually attached to each of the drags.

In order that the draft animals may keep their distance properly fordragging the drag bars between the rows of cotton, a tracing bar ormember 14 is arranged to be secured to the bit ring of thebridle of eachanimal, so that the animals W'lll always be properly positioned inrelation to each other for dragging the exterminator between adjacentrows of cotton.

Preferably the drags or exterminators are used in sets of three so as topermit one person to operate the same and thus limit the a top plan viewof the preferred form of my l cost of operation, but it will be evidentthat if desired a single drag may be used, the same passing between therows of cotton.

When dragging or pulling the device across the field it is to beunderstood that the same passes between the rows of cotton and crushesor bruises sufficiently the boll weevils or other vermin that may bepassed The present invention will also smooth the ground so the weevilin endeavoring to reach the cotton will roll off into the space betweenthe rows, or when dropping from the cotton will fall between the rows,and the next time that the device is pulled across the field it willcrush all the boll weevils that may have fallen between the rows. It isdesigned to pull or drag a structure formed according to the presentinvention across the field at short intervals during the time when theweevil is prevalent so as to keep the cotton free from the same while itis maturing.

As will be evident the bars will adjust themselves to any unevenness ofthe ground as it is pulled across the field. In case a stone or otherarticle is engaged all of the bars will be quickly pivoted upward andover the obstacle, or if the obstacle simply strikes against one, thatone will raise up and pass over the obstacle while the others willremain in their original position.

In using the device it is preferable to place a weight of considerablesize upon each of the drag bars so as to insure suflicient power forkilling the weevils.

In operation it is preferable to drag a device formed according to thepresent invention across the field previous to the time when the weevilappears so as to form a comparatively smooth surface and also a troughfor receiving and holding the weevils. The device is designed to bedrawn across the field from then on, every few days or as often as mayseem advisable in order to ,kill all of the weevils that may fall intothe trough or ground between the rows of cotton. By this means theweevil, either in its full grown condition or while in the boll, isdestroyed. After the weevil has become full grown or partially so itusually travels from one stalk of cotton to another and in doing so willfall into the trough or curved way between the rows and as the device isdrawn across the field it will crush the weevils.

What I claim is:

In an exterminator, a plurality of drag bars, each of said drag barshaving a runner formed with a curved end for passing over obstacles overwhich the exterminator is designed to pass, a cross bar, and means forpivotally securing each of said drag bars in dependently to said crossbar.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. ROSSON.

Witnesses:

J. C. MARNEY, I. D. SINGLETON.

